A couple years ago I passed through the Indiana Dunes on a road trip. It’s a beautiful place – you get to walk over and through sand dunes and the trail leads to the shores of Lake Michigan.
While sitting and watching the water, I also watched the people (one of my favorite pastimes). There were so many emotions visible: happy, lonely, excited, relaxed, frustrated. Some with headphones, some constantly on their phones – physically present but mentally and/or emotionally somewhere else. Maybe trying to connect with others – maybe simply trying to forget or escape.
But none of the little groups of people ever interacted with any of the other groups. Though we were all at the same place at the same time – we didn’t share our experiences.
As I was returning to my car I saw a shop that had small buckets. Visitors could take them and fill them with trash to help keep the beach and dunes clean. It reminded me of the book: How Full is Your Bucket by Tom Rath.
There are so many people in this world walking around carrying garbage in their minds and hearts. Memories, emotions, past hurts, regrets, and so much more. They’re looking for healing, hope, purpose, ….. Something. Yet we get bogged down in the lies, the hurts, the wounds from past relationships and experiences.
We humans were created for connection and community, yet so often we isolate ourselves. It’s easy now with cell phones, streaming services, and living in our own places. We don’t share life with our neighbors or those around us. No more borrowing a cup of sugar – we simply order a bag online, or drop by the blessing box in town.
But what if – like that shop that had a bucket to fill with trash – we tried to help those we see in public with their burdens? By lending a listening ear, smiling and asking how they’re doing, actually looking the cashier in the eyes and having a short conversation with them? What if we carried around a bucket filled with positives to pass out – or an empty one to take the emotional and mental trash from their lives.
What if today you made the choice to speak truth and love into their lives and helped clean up a tiny fraction of the garbage that is slowing someone else down? Are you willing to take life a little slower to actually see the people around you and then help remove some garbage or add joy to their lives?
Paul wrote a letter to a church in Philippi in the first century. Here is a snippet from his letter:
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from His love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?
Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had – take an interest in others.
I would love to hear how you helped fill someone else’s bucket or how someone helped you today!